Smoke-curing apparatus



A. C. LEGS. SMOKE CUFHNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION HLED )ULY i3, |91?.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

2 SHEETSYSHEET l.

A. C. LEGG.

SMOKE cumNn APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13. 19|?.

1,333,552.r Patented MA1: 9,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED sTATEs 'PATENT oFFIoEi ANDREW C. IEGG, OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, ASSIGNOR TO LEGG MEAT CUR'ING,y

COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F ALABAMA.

SMOKE-CURING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1920.

Application filed July 131917. Serial No. 180,244.,`

To all whom. t may concern.'

Be it known that I, ANDREW C. LEGG, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Birmingham, in the county of Jefferson and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Smoke-Curing Apparatus, Vof which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a novel type of smokehouse and drier and forms a continuation of the application filed by me on the 8th day of March, 1915, Serial No. 13,064.

The object of my invention is to provide an apparatus in which the temperature, circulation and condensation of the smoke or curative gases are maintained underu such accurate control that the process of curing articles can be conducted with scientific exactness to the ends that there shall be a minimum shrinkage or-loss 'in ,weight of meat treated, that all articles shall be thoroughly cured, and that, when finished, the meat or other articles shall have a clean, properly colored and attractive appearance and in the case of meat shall also have a surface glaze which will effectively-protect the same `from moisture so that thejwrapping can in most instances be dispensed with.

In a companion application-,Serial No. 94,518, I have described andk claimed the duplex smoking process which it is my purpose to conduct in the apparatus forming the subject matter of this invention, such process as applied to the curing of meats, involving a preliminaryv drying process with a hot smoke or gas-for the elimination of excess moisture from the meat and the sub,-`

sequent treatment of the dried meat with cool smoke which is substituted for the hot smoke as soon as the fatty tissues of the meat commence to break down under the drying process, or, as it is termed in the trade, as soon as the meat begins to show fat shrinkage. In order. to cause the maximum deposit of thecurative agent in the smoke on the meat it is desirable to conduct this cool smoke process, or a part at least thereof, by a down circulation of the cool smoke through the smokehouse and to maintain the same as part of acontinuous circulation of the smoke in cir-cuit through the smokehouse and the smoke generator by a natural draft induced by the heat in the smoke generator whicht is just sufficient to maintain this circulation the meat takes place as the smoke chills in settling through the smokehouse. My apparatus is especially designed to carry out the processes above described.

Where utilized to cure or dry vegetables or evaporate fruit, the drying-functions of the apparatus only are used and in such cases the generation of a curative smoke is abandoned and a hot gas, such as air, is the medium passed through the generator and introduced into the curing chamber to carry off the moisture and to assist in heating the chamber.

This invention further comprises improvements in the smoke and heat distributing piping systems, an important feature being the utilization of the smoke generating heat as a means for controlling the temperature of the box by radiation, it being my purpose that the products of active combustion shall be excluded at all times from gaining access to the articles inthe curing chamber so that they will be kept free from soot or dirt and have a 'clean attractive appearance. y y 1 Al further object of my invention is to so design the apparatus that its capacity can be increased at will with a minimum expense, this being obtained by constructing the body in sections or units which can be knocked down for shipment.

Al further feature of my invention relates to the provision of means by which the curing process may =be observed without requiring the box to be entered, this being of advantage in avoiding the escape of'heat or smoke into the room in which the apparatus is located and in enabling the operator to rapidly and accurately determine the condition' of the articles under treatment in vthe several apparatuses entrusted to his care. My object this and other structural features being'to provide the maximum simplicity in the treatment of, the meat or drying lof varticles so that the process can be conducted without requiring skilled labor and with amaximum production per unit of labor.

My invention having been primarily designed as a smokehouse, will be so referred y to, but with the understanding that such term is generic to a curing apparatus for drying 0r evaporating fruits and vegetables as well asv curing meats.

' My invention further comprises the various novel details of constructie-n and arrangements of parts which are hereinafter more fully described and pointed 'out in the appended claims, and which are illustrated;

in their preferred embodiment only in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view with a side of lthe smokehouse broken away and with the topsmoke distributers also broken away for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view-of the smokehouse showing the piping system complete and having the tc-p cover broken away.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the smokehouse and generator on the line 3-3, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view thro-ugh the distributing box and one of. the smoke distributers taken along the line -l-la'of Fig. 3, and through the distributer at a line nearer I the center of the box.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5--5, of Fig. f

Fig. 6 isa vertical section taken cn the line 6-6 through the smoke generator in Fig. 3. .y 4

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughoutthe drawings.

As illustrated, the smokehou'se, as a separate unit, is made up of vertical side and end sections and transverse top sections which are preferably made of galvanized sheetv metal and are standardized so that by thev insertion of additional .top and side sections I can increase the' capacity of the smokehouse.

The vertical side sections 1 are' formed preferably oftwo metal plates vsuitably connected by spot welding or' riveting, the inner being a flat sheet 1a and the outer a corrugated sheet 1b, thus producing side walls of considerable strength rand with air spaces which if desired may be filled with any insulating materiah such as mineral wool, so as to reduce to a minimum the radiation of heat from the smokehouse. At their meeting side" edges the sections are lapped and bolted together between outer vertical bars 2 and inner vertical angles 3, these serving also to stiften the walls and to take the direct load of the material under4 treatment in the box. VlVhere trees are not used, the meat is hung from cross bars or pipes et which have their flattened ends resting` upon bars, or pipes 5 extending lengthwise of the box and supported by hangers 6 that are bolted to the angle irons 3.

The front of the box is formed by upright sections 7, 8 and| `9 formed similarly the side sections 1 except that the intermediate section'l is provided with a plurality of apertures for the heat and smoke pipes which will later be described.

The top of the box comprises transverse sections 17, 18 and 19 formed of single sheets, 'which are braced and supported along their lapped meeting edges by angle irons 20 which are braced by the plates 21 to the side angles 3. The air spaces between the flat and corrugated sheets are closed top and bottom in any suitable manner. I prefer to use a bottom angle 22 for each side and end of the smokehouse. its vertical flange being bolted to the inner face of sheet 1u and both sheets 1a andlb being seated on its horizontal iange, as seen in Fig. rThe flat top plates lap over and close the top openings between the sheets 1a and 1" and also carry an ornamental cornice 23. The middle top section 13 is provided with an opening atfits center for the main smoke outlet pipe 24. 1

The general structure of the smokehouse having been tluls'described, the smoke gene1-ating and distributing apparatus will now be described.

The smok'c is generated b v a stove 25 having a thin transverse solid diaphragm or partition 2G below which is arranged a burner 27 for gaseous fuel and upon which is adapted te be seated a fuel drawer 23 which is preferably insertible from the side of the box through a suitable opening therefor. The sides of the stove carry side dampers 29 below the partitionand an end air ythe smoke and fuel gases are driven otf bv heat from the burner 27, these gases passing ofi'v fromthe'stove through a smoke pipe A division plate 3G is set into the top ofthe stove so as to form a flue connecting the port 32 with the pipe 35. the upper part of this plate rpreferably bisecting the stove opening for the pipe 35 and carrying a damper 37 adapted to. shut oiiL1 the return circuvlation ofsmoke through the port 32 to the The smoke pipe 35 extends above and thenv over the smokehouse to join the smoke outlet pipe 24 above a damper 4l therein which is controlled by a damper rod 42 that extends to the rear edge of the box, being there bent toform a crank which is connected to the operating rod A13 which passes through a spring catch 44 on the smokehouse. The vertical leg of the smoke pipe 35 has connected thereto a lower branch pipe 45 having a damper 46 therein and an upper branch pipe 47 having a damper 48 therein, and aboveI the branch 47 the pipe 35 carries va damper 49 which is operated by a crank 50 and rod 51, which latter passes through a spring catch 52 adjacent to the catch 44. A handle 53 for the damper 48 also extends to a point adjacent to the catches 44 and 52 and the handles for the dampers 37, 38 and 46 are all disposed so that all dempers can be manipulated from, and all functions of the apparatus regulated at, one point of control.

The hot smoke distrilbuting apparatus comprises a rear reversely tapering pipe 54 having a partition at its enlarged center opposite the point where the hot smoke pipe 45 opens thereinto after passing through the rear wall of the smokeho'use. The partition thus serves to divide the hot smoke, causing half to flow in opposite directions across the rear end of the smokehouse where the ends of the pipes are reduced to a standard size and connected by elbows 56 t the side pipesv 57 which extend to the front end of the box below the level of the meat under treatment. The pipes 54 and 57 are supported by suitable brackets 58 attached to the angle irons-3 and along the lower inner edge of the pipes are provided a series of smoke outlet holes 59 through which the smoke is caused t0 How substantially horizontally toward the center' of the box.

The heat distributing piping system comprises nipples 31a which surround the heat ports 3l and are of sufficient length to project through the rear wall of the smokeh'ou se when the stove abuts against it. Upright pipes 60, each having a right angled bend at its lower end where it joins to its respective nipple 31u. extend upwardly to the pipe 54 where they are joined to nipples 61 carried by the rear horizontal heating pipe 62 and adapted to project through bottom ij'ieningsin the pipe 5t on ,each side of its r partition The hot .smoke pipe 54 is .these enough larger than the heat ,pipe 62 to permit the latter to be inserted through its ends and then lowered to cause the nipplesv 61 to project below the same and make a joint with the pipes 60. The partition is provided with a suitable hole for the passage of the p'pel 6'2 andthis pipe itself is divided by a partition 63 which is inserted and made fast. thereon 'between the nipples so as to divide the heat pipes into two separate flues through which the hot' gases flow in opposite directions to the sides of the smokehouse where, 'by suitable connections these heat pipes are given a right angled bend in the elbows 56 and continue within the pipes 57 the full 4length of the sides passing through the heads 64 which close the outer ends of the pipes 57 (Fig. l). The heat pipes then extend vertically in each front corner of the smokehouse to and through the top thereof and are there connected by pipes 65 to the pipe 24 above the damper in the latter. My object in passing the heating pipes through the hot smoke pipes is to maintain the hot smoke at a substantially uniform temperature throughout'the pipes 54 and 57 and, moreover, the exposed heat pipes at the front of the box will have sutiicient radiating heating effect to offset the presence of the stove at the rear of the sinokehouse and to heat the interior of the latter with substantial uniformity.

The cold smoke distribution system connects with the pipe 47 after it 'has passed through the rear wall of the smokehouse. This pipe 47 first delivers the smoke into a transverse distributing box 66, preferalbly arranged inside of the smokehouse and extending from side to side at the top of the rear wall thereof. In order to distribute the smoke uniformly throughout this box, a hale 67, formed by a bent metal plate of less width than the depth of the box. is attached thereto in front of the pipe 47, thereby causing a. uniform supply of smoke to enter the top distributers 68. Three of distributers are shown arranged lengthwise of the sniokehouse, each having its sides and tops formed by a bent metal sheet, 69, the sides being'of graduated depth which increases toward the smoke supply end. The bottom of the distributer is formed by a corrugated plate 7 (l having perforations along the tops of the inwardly projecting ridges which run lengthwise thereof. A suitable opening' is cut in the inner wall of the distril'iuting box 66 so that the larger end of .each distributer 68 can be inserted therein with a fairly close lit, it beingnoted (Fig. 3) that the bottoni` sheet projects well into the box 66 so that the liquid condensation that collects between the perforated ridges will run down and fall into the box which has its bottom sloped toward a drain hole 76 normally closed by a plug 77. The forward ends of the displates.

. smoke was drawn directly into the pipe 24.

In-order that the articles under treatment can be accurately observed without opening the smokehouse, I provide a sight window 73 in any suitable part of the walls, the window being formed by spaced glass A thermometer 74 is arranged in the box beside the window so that it can be observed therethrough, and an electric light 75 is provided in the box in position to illuminate the meat near the window and the thermometer. l

In operation, thev smoke is generated in the stove and passes through pipe directly to the stack pipe 24, the damper 49 being opened until it is desired to start the curing process when the dampers 37, 48 and 49 are closed and the dampers 38, 46 and 4l are opened. This causes the heat generated by the burner to flow through the heat pipes 6() and 62 and the smoke to iow through pipes 45, 54 and 5 7 into the lower part of the smokehouse throu h which the smoke rises and passes over t 1e central distributer 68 and out through they pipe 24. Under these `conditions the burner Z7 is at full heat and the damper 30 is opened so that a considerablel volume of hot air and smoke is passed through the meat to dry it rapidly. As the meat dries out the heat is reduced and the burner lowered until a cool smoke is passing through the meat. When it is desired to make use of the continuous circulation of cool smoke for the purpose of finishing the cure and causing a heavy deposit of curative agents on the meat, the following readjustment of dampers is made, to-wit: Dampers 41 and 46 are closed and dampers 48 and 37 are opened, whereupon a relatively cool smoke rises by a natural draft in pipe 35 and, damper 49 remaining closed, passes through pipe 47 into the distributing box 66 and thence into thedistributers 68 from which" it flows downwardly through the bottom holes in the latter and settles through the meats as it chills. The chilled smoke is drawn 0H from the bottom of the smokehouse by a return draft through the port. 32 and passes above the division plate 36 into the pipe 35, thus completing its cycle and forming a continuous circulation which is gradually supplemented by fresh smoke and reheated to a small extent in its passage through the stove. The chillmg of this smoke as it descends slowly through the meats causes a very heavy deposit of curative agents on the meat during I 'surface glaze by drying the coating of curative agents thereon. The response of the meat to the treatment can be observed through the window 7 3 and the smoke and heat controlled accurately and in the simplest possible manner, to complete the cure rapidly and with a minimum loss byshrinkage, the whole operation being fundamentally different from the haphazard smoking operation now in general use.

In drying vegetables and evaporating fruit, the fuel drawer 28 is emptied of all fuel and is preferably removed, so that air may pass through the upper chamber above the partition 26 and enter the curing chamber through the distributer pipes 57. The radiation pipes 62, 65 are heated to the ldesired extent to broduce the requisite temperature in the chamber and the top damper 41 is opened to permit the moisture laden air to pass off through the stack 24. The discharge of the hot gases from the heating pipes 65 into the stack :24 will serve to'considerably increase the draft therein and thereby increase the circulation of hot air through the articles being dried.

IVhen I refer in the claims to a smoke generating chamber in the stove or furnace, it will be understood that I refer to the chamber which is heated by the fire in thel combustion chamber, whether such smoke generating chamber be used to generate smoke or any other gas, or merely to heat air while passing therethrough.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a curing apparatus, a curing chamber, a heating furnace having a smoke generating chamber inaccessible to the drippings of thearticles to be cured and having an air inlet, a burner for heating the generating chamber` and means to deliver the hot gases genera-ted in the generating chamber into the presence of the articles under treatment in the curing chamber, and means to exclude the products of combustion of said burner from said articles under treatment.

2. In curing apparatus, a curing chamber for the articles to he treated, a fuel cham-ber adapted for the generation of smoke and which has communication with thevcuring chamber and is disposed so as to be inaccessible to the drippings of the meat, an air inlet valve for said fuel chamber, and an exllO chamber, and a radiation pipingsystem to pass the heated products of combustion from said source of heat through the curing-chamber to heat it. i

4. In a curing apparatus, a curing chamber, a fuel chamber adapted for the generation of smoke and which has communication with the curing-chamber, fuel burning means external to said fuel chamber and curing chamber and adapted to heat them both, andv regulable means to control the heating of the curing chamber independently of the.l

heating of the fuel chamber, substantially as described.

.5. In a curing apparatus, a curing chamber, a smoke generator external to and having communication with said chamber and comprising a gaseous fuel burner, and a smoke generating chamber, means to exclude the products of combustion from said burner from said generating chamber which is' furnace into the curing chamber, and thel other adapted to carry offthe products of active combustion from said furnace, said latter system being arranged to heat the curing chamber by radiation. g

1. In a curing apparatus, a curing cham ber, a smoke generator comprising non-communicating combustion and smoke generating chambers, a distributing piping system whichA discharges into the curing chamber and is connected to said smoke generating chamber, and a heatradiation piping system which passes through the curing chamber and leads from said combustion chamber to a point of discharge for the products of active combustion.

S. In a curing apparatus, a curing chamber,`a smoke generator comprising non-communicating combustion 'and smoke generating chambers, a. distributing piping system in the curing chamber connected to said smoke generating chamber` a heat radiation piping system in the curing chamber connected to said combustion chamber, and separate dampers to control the distribution of heat and smoke from said generator to the curing chamber.

9. In a curing apparatus, a curing chamber, a smoke generator having non-communicating combustion and smoke generating chambers, a distributing pipe leading from the smoke generatinr chamber into the curing chamber, and a heating pipe juxtaposed to said distributingpipe. and leading from lsaid combustion chamber through the curing chamber.

10. In a curing apparatus, a curing chamber, a smoke generator having nonLcommunicating combustion and smoke generating chambers, a distributing pipe leading from the smoke generating chamber into the curing chamber. andv a heating pipe leading from said combustion chamber through the smoke distributing pipe and through the curing chamber.

11. In combination, a curing chamber, a smoke generating furnace, and piping means connecting the top and bottom of the curing chamber and exposed to the furnace heat at a point where heat will effect a downward circulation of smoke through the curing chamber.

12. In an apparatus for curing meat by smoke, a curing chamber, a smoke generator, means to deliver smoke from the generator by its natural draft into the curing chamber both below and above the meats, and pipe means in which a draft is induced by the generator to draw oii" the smoke from below the meats in the curing chamber.

13. In a meat curing apparatus, a curing chamber, a fuel chamber, means connect-ing the upper and lower parts of the curing chamber in circuit through said fuel chamber, and a heater acting on the fuel chamber and adapted to both generate smoke and maintain a circulation thereof through said circuit.

14. In combination, a meat curing chamlber having an external pipe circuit connecting its upper and lower parts, a fuel chamber 'in said pipe circuit, means for admitting air and fuel into said fuel chamber, Aan ex ternal source of heat for heating said fuel chamber to generate smokeand induce a circulation thereof continuously through both chambers.

15. In combination, a curing chamber and a conduit partly wit-hout said chan'iber and which leads laterally into the top and bottom of said chamber. a fuel chamber included in and disposed near the bottom of said conduit, an air and fuel door for said fuel chamber. said conduit being closed cX- cept for said air and fucl door. and external means to heat said fuel chamber. said conduit being disposed to deliver the hot gases internalllivv into the upper part of the curing chamber.

lGQIn combination, a curingchaniber, a preservative generator, an upright smoke supply pipe leading from the generator and adapted to deli smoke directly linto* the .5 upper part of said chamber, means to distribute the smoke from saidv pipe over the )per part of said chamber, a source ofcomastion for generating' smoke in said genera.- toi' and ivhich has no access to said pipe, and io means to withdraw the smoke from the lower part of said curi g chamber.

17. In a drying apparatus, a chamber to receive the articies to be ti'eated, a marginal perforated distributing conduit -for air or i gas aboijt the lower Aportion of said chamber, ind a heatei' extending along said conduit to raise the pressure ofthe airoi' gas'in said conduit. y Y

18.` In a smoke curing' apparatus for meat, a curing' chamber, a smoke generator, valve controlled mez adapted to deliver the genei'ated smoke o either the pper or lower portion 5 of the curing chamber, and top and Wbottom damper controlled smoke outlet ports ffor the curing chamber. i

1S). In a smoke curing apparatus for meats,V a curing chamber having top smoke distributing pipes and a bottom smoke outlet, and havii" also bottom smoke distribut'mg' pipes an la top smoke outlet, dan'ipers for said outlet i livery of smoke to either set of pipes.

tril'iiiters, a Vsmoke, generator, valve oont ro'lled pipes to deliver smoke therefrom to 4'0 either: distributing means, and top and bottom damper! controlled smoke outlets for j said chamber. 21. In a meat curing apparatus, a curing chamber, a. top sinoke distributei' liaving 4:5 raised pei'forated portions in its inclined bottom, anda box to catch the condensation that flows down said bottom vof=tlie,dis tribilftei'. i i 22'. In a nieat curing apparatus, a curing' L chamber, a smoke generator, a series of top distributers ivith perforations, and a baflied distributer which receivesthe smoke from said generator and delivers substantially equal amounts thereof to said perforated distributersi t i i 23,-, In a curing apparatus. a curing chambei',V marginal perforated distributing pipe in saidchamber for hot gases, and a radiator pipe underlying said distribiiting pipe, as and for the purposes described'.

s, a smoke generator connectfg r ed to said top and bottom smoke dlistribsfV utei's, and damper means toY control the de- 20. In a smoke curing appai'atiis for meat.,Y a. curing chamber, amarginal loiver smokeV distributing pipe, flat overhead smoke dis-V 2l. In a curing apparatus, a curing cham- .ber, a marginal (.listributing pipe in said chamber for lio(Y gases. a heating pipe juxtaposed to said distributing' pipe, and means to suppl",vv hot gases to said pipes.

25. Ina curing' apparatus, a curing'chambei', a top outlet pipe leading from said chamber, means to introduce not gases into said cliainl'i'er. a heating pipe passing through said chamber and entering said pipe above thev chamoer and means with* out thel curing' chamber for delivering hoi gases iiito said heating pipe.

Y 26. In la curing' apparatusf a curing' chainber. atop outlet pipe leading from said rhaniber, means to introduce hot gases into @said chamber, a s heating i pipe passing through said chamber and entering said pipe above the chamber, and a damper in said outlet pipe beloiv the entrance of said heating pipe. p

27. a curing apparatus, a curing chamber, a draft stack leading from the center ofthe chamber top, a distribution piping s vstem for admitting hot Y*gases into the lower pai't of the chamber` and means to supply hot eases to said piping system comprising a f rnace having' smoke flues for carrying' ofi' its products of active combustion `reading through said chamber in ju);- taposition to said distribution piping system and entering' said draft stack.

28. In a curing apparatus, a curing' chamber, a draft stack leading from the center of the chamber top, a distribution piping system in the loivei' partof the chamber, and means to suppl)v hot gases to said piping syste-fm comprising a furnace having fluesvfor carrying off its products of active combustion leading' through said chamberfand passing along under said piping system and finally entering said draftY stack. said fines heilig' of equal length and "symmetrically arranged in said chainber.

29. In a curing' apparatus, a chamber havingra damper controlled outlet, a closed cir 'cuit piping system leading through said chamber, a perforated piping system in said chamber, and a furnace having' its combustionV chamber connected to said closed circuitY piping` system. andfV having a heated chamber connected to said perforated piping system. and a drawer for smoke generating fuel .removable from said heated chamber. f c

n testimony whereof I affix in v signature.

ANDREW Lneo.

lVitness Y NoMIii VELSH. 

